Heavy rainfall over the recent days has left at least 65 roads in Gopalganj Municipality severely damaged, disrupting daily life and increasing the risk of accidents for commuters.
According to Gopalganj Municipality Executive Engineer Mehedi Hasan, proposals for repairing and reconstructing the damaged roads have been submitted under the World Bank-funded Resilient Urban and Territorial Development Project (RUTDP).
Gopalganj Municipality, established on January 10, 1972, was upgraded to a first-class municipality in 1996. In 2021, its jurisdiction expanded from nine to 15 wards, increasing its area from 13 square kilometres to 30.7 square kilometres. The municipality now serves approximately 209,450 residents.
The municipality has a total road network of 173.25 kilometres, comprising 113.75 kilometres of paved roads, 25.5 kilometres of earthen roads, 14 kilometres of Herringbone Bond (HBB) roads, 10 kilometres of Water Bound Macadam (WBM) roads, and 10 kilometres of brick-soling roads.
Mehedi Hasan said infrastructure development in the newly added wards has so far been limited. However, the municipality has secured Tk185 crore in funding from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Contractors have already been appointed through a tender process, and work has begun on five roads.
He added that the World Bank-funded RUTDP Project is expected to begin soon, with proposals covering 65 roads.
"Once these roads are repaired and reconstructed, public suffering will be significantly reduced," he said.
According to Abu Sufian, officer-in-charge of the Gopalganj Weather Office, the district recorded rainfall on 26 days in July, with total precipitation reaching 636 mm, exceeding the seasonal average.
The prolonged rainfall has washed away asphalt and aggregates from many roads, exposing bricks and gravel and creating large potholes. Waterlogging has further worsened road conditions, making travel difficult for pedestrians and motorists alike.
Residents say accidents involving rickshaws, battery-run auto-rickshaws, bicycles and motorcycles have become increasingly common. Pedestrians have also suffered injuries after slipping on muddy roads.
Nasir Uddin Sheikh, a student, said the road beside Lal Mia City College and Madrasa has become almost impassable.
"Thousands of people, including students, patients visiting the diabetes hospital, prison visitors and residents of nearby villages, use this road every day. It should be repaired immediately," he said.
Fatema Begum, a resident of Islampara in Ward No. 7, said even light rainfall inundates local roads.
"We need proper drainage alongside urgent road repairs to ease our suffering," she said.
Another resident, Md Din Islam Sheikh, alleged that despite paying municipal taxes regularly, residents continue to be deprived of basic civic services.
Rickshaw puller Md Nasir Molla said poor road conditions have reduced passenger numbers while increasing vehicle maintenance costs.
Electric three-wheeler driver Kabil Mia said damaged roads significantly reduce battery efficiency.
"A fully charged vehicle should run 50 to 60 kilometres, but on these roads it barely covers 30 to 40 kilometres. We now have to recharge twice a day, which has sharply increased our operating costs," he said.
LGED Executive Engineer Muhammad Rubaiyat Zaman said prolonged waterlogging weakens bitumen, causing asphalt layers to deteriorate and potholes to form.
He added that oil spills, poor drainage and improper waste disposal also contribute to road damage. He recommended wider use of reinforced cement concrete (RCC) and interlocking concrete block roads in municipal areas to improve durability.